Figure 3. Culture assays.

Culture assays under aerobic (A) and anaerobic (B) conditions (oxygen concentration < 0.3%). Protoscoleces of E. multilocularis were treated with ATV, crocin, Ver, and their combinations. Crocin and ATV were treated at a final concentration of 50 µM each in the medium. The final concentration of Ver alone in the medium was 50 μg/mL. The combination of ATV and Ver was set at 50 μM ATV and 50 μg/mL Ver. Survival of protoscoleces was assessed by the ability to eliminate trypan blue. Protoscoleces were counted in triplicate from day 0 to day 7. Statistical analysis was performed on mean survival (%), and the standard deviation of triplicate samples is indicated by error bars.

ATV, atovaquone; Ver, verapamil; E. multilocularis, Echinococcus multilocularis